common culinary herbs and their uses

8/3/2019 Common Culinary Herbs and Their Uses

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Common Culinary Herbs and Their Uses

Based on a fact sheet published by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture in the 1970s.Updated by Cathy Avery.

Culture Uses Characteristics Harvest

ANISE Pimpinella anisum

. . .

seed; use fresh seed; likes

sun; space 15-20 cm (6-8

inches) apart

green leaves and seeds in

salads; meats; bakery

goods; tastes somewhat likelicorice

annual; slow-growing;

whitish flowers in flat

clusters; finely cut lobedleaves; 60 cm (2 feet) tall

use leaves fr

seeds when

remove fromstore

BASIL, Sweet

Ocimum basilicum. . .

seed; sow after ground iswarm in spring; plant late;needs water and warmth,

sun and shelter; 30 cm (12

inches) apart; pinch out topsof branches to prevent

bloom -- this produces more

leaves

border plant for garden, or in pots for patios; choppedleaves fresh or dry have

clove-like flavour and taste;

seasoning for vegetablesand meat

annual; deep-green leaves;white blooms; manyvarieties available including

small leaf (bush) and purple

types; 30-90 cm (12-36inches) high

cut stalks ba(4-6 inches)growing sea

frozen; strip

stems and sc

BAY LAUREL Laurus nobilis

. . .

seed or stem cuttings (slowand difficult to establish);

best to buy established plants; full or diffused sun;

grow in containers; well-

draining, rich soil; space

30-90 cm (1-3 feet)depending on size

fresh or dried leaves insoups, stews, fines herbes

blends

tree or shrub; tender perennial; deep green,

shiny, leathery leaves;grows up to 6 m (20 feet) in

southern climates; can be

keep small and bushy at

under 1 m (3 feet)

pick mature fresh or scre

whole

BORAGE Borago officinalis

. . .

seed; sow early spring; willself-sow; needs dry, sunny

place; space 30-45 cm (12-

18 inches) apart

young leaves havecucumber flavour; use them

in salads and cold soups;

use fresh leaves in eggs;

fresh flowers in fruit drinksand candied for dessert

garnish

bushy plant; coarse leaves;annual; grows 60-90 cm (2-

3 feet) high; blue flowers

pick blossom pick leaves f

BURNET, Salad . . .



Poterium sanguisorba

seed; full sun; dry, sandy

soil; space 30 cm (12

inches) apart

fresh leaves have mild

cucumber flavour; for

salads, soups, dressings,spreads and vinegars

hardy perennial; 45 cm (18

inches) high

pick leaves a

remove flow

they appear

CARAWAY Carum carvi

. . .

seed; sow spring or fall; fullsun, light soil; seeds

produced second year;

space 30-45 cm (12-18

inches) apart

seeds used to flavour bread, pastry, meat, soups, sauces,

confections

biennial; feathery foliage;creamy flowers; resembles

carrot; 60 cm (2 feet) tall

dry seed heaseeds in autu

year

CHERVIL

Anthriscus cerefolium. . .

seed; sow spring or fall; partial shade; rich organicsoil; 45 cm (18 inches)

apart

leaves fresh or dried used asgarnish for fish, in soups,omelettes; mix with salad

greens

annual; goes to seed inJune; leaves are parsley-like, ferny; 30-60 cm (12-

24 inches) high

leaves best ufreezing is th preserve

CHIVES Allium schoenoprasum

. . .

division or seed; rich, moistsoil; plant same as onions;

divide clumps and pot for

indoor use during winter

clumps and bloomsdecorative in gardens;

leaves used fresh or dried in

salads and as seasonings;

has onion flavour

perennial; can be used thefirst season; resembles fine-

leaved onions; grows in

clumps; violet edible

flowers

leaves best uflavour bette

dried; for dr

small pieces

CORIANDER (Cilantro)

Coriandrum sativum. . .

seed; start in spring; do not

transplant; for cilantro leaf production, repeat sowings;

space 10 cm (4 inches)

apart; full sun, light soil

seeds for spices in baking,

dressings; tastes and smellslike orange leaves in

stuffings, curries; fresh

leaves essential in Chineseand Southeast Asian dishes,

and in Mexican salsas

annual; grows 60 cm (2

feet) tall

harvest seed

before shattedevelops up

leaves harve

flowering, ucilantro

DILL Anethum graveolens

. . .

seed; repeat sowings for summer long supply; sow

early; needs rich soil; space

25 cm (10 inches) apart

leaves for salads; freshleaves and seed stalks for

dill pickles; after drying use

to season meats, fish,vegetables

annual; 60-90 cm (2-3 feet)tall; feathery foliage;

rampant grower

leaves are beflowers open

as soon as ri

whole plant



FENNEL

Foeniculum vulgare. . .

seed; best sown directly in

garden; full sun; rich soil;space 45 cm (18 inches)

apart

all parts of leaves, stems

and seeds aromatic; usedfor fish seasonings and

sauces; ornamental

background plants for garden

annual; tall, rampant,

branching; thread-likefoliage to 1 m (3 feet)

flower stalk

before bloomlike celery; l

fresh; dried

teas

GARLIC

Allium sativum. . .

cloves planted early spring

or fall; grows in any goodgarden soil; full sun; plant

cloves 15 cm (6 inches)

apart and 5 cm (2 inches)

deep

chopped cloves season

meats, vegetable sauces;garlic salt obtained from

pulverized dried cloves

flat, onion-like leaves to 60

cm (2 feet); prune flower stalk to increase yield; fall

planting produces bigger

cloves

dig bulbs, dr

in cool dry a

LAVENDER, English

Lavandula angustifolia. . .

seeds or cuttings; sun and

poor soil for fragrance;needs protection or take

indoors if winters severe;

space 60 cm (2 feet) apart

fragrance; fresh and dried

flowers; oil distilled fromthem; place dried flowers in

small cloth bags for

scenting closets; good border or hedge plants

perennial; somewhat

woody; 30-60 cm (12-24inches); gray-green leaves;

many varieties available

cut and dry w

spikes whento open; do n

excessive or

when dryingoils are very

LOVAGE

Levisticum officinale . . .

seed or division; full or part

sun; sandy, fertile soil;space 1 m (3 feet) apart

leaves have strong celery

flavour; for salads, soups,dried herb blends

hardy perennial; one plant

enough; deep green leaves;white flowers attract

beneficial insects; grows up

to 2 m (6 feet)

pick leaves a

fresh, freezeto dry, minc

MARJORAM, SweetOriganum majorana

. . .

seed, cuttings, crown

division; sow early inside or in coldframe; shadeseedlings until established,

then full sun; space 20-25

cm (8-10 inches); can betaken inside in winter as pot

plant

gray-green foliage

ornamental for colour contrast; leaves used freshor dried as seasoning for

meat dishes; oil used in

perfumes

annual or tender perennial;

velvety leaves; veryfragrant; low-spreading and bushy to 30 cm (12 inches)

high

cut stalks be

hang to dry bunches or s



MINT

Spearmint Mentha spicata

Peppermint M. x piperita Orange mint M. x piperita citrata

. . .

surface or underground

rhizomes; thin beds andrenew every 3-4 years; willgrow in semi-shade; rich,

moist soil; space 45 cm (18

inches) apart

fragrance for scent; crushed

leaves flavour tea, candies,mint sauce; oil from plant issource of menthol

perennial; purple flowers;

refreshing fragrance;spreads by surface runners; plant in tubs to keep roots

restricted; up to 90 cm (3

feet) tall

pick leaves i

from plants;fresh or drie before flowe

OREGANO

Origanum vulgare. . .

seeds or division; grows

well in poor soil; does well

in containers and as ground

cover for banks; space 30-45 cm (12-18 inches) apart

fresh or dried leaves as

meat or vegetable

seasoning; used in pizza

perennial; soft, rounded

leaves; grows in clumps 60

cm (2 feet) high

cut stalks be

begins; hang

on screens

PARSLEY

Petroselinum crispum. . .

seed; sow early inside, self

sows; medium-rich soil; sun

or part shade; best started in

coldframes; space 15-20 cm(6-8 inches); start new

plants each year

decorative as an edging

plant; rich in vitamins A

and C; leaves best used

fresh; seasoning for soup,meats, salads

biennial; finely curled

leaves; flowers second year;

20 cm (8 inches) high;

compact plant; flat leaf varieties have strongest

flavour

best used fre

and roots ke

dried or froz

of growth is

ROSEMARY Rosmarinus officinalis

. . .

stem cuttings; seed

germinates slowly;

overwinter in cool sunny

spot in house; keep foliagemisted; doesn't like acid

soil; needs full sun and

wind shelter; space 1 m (3feet) apart

use ornamentally as

specimen pot plant; use

leaves fresh or dried as food

seasoning, especially on poultry or lamb

evergreen; narrow leaves;

shrubby; not reliably hardy;

leathery leaves have

pungent spicy fragrance;reaches 1-2 m (3-6 feet) in

southern climates

cut leaves an

flowering; d

excessive or

when dryingvolatile; free

recommende

SAGE, GardenSalvia officinalis

. . .

seed, stem cuttings; cut

back in spring for newfoliage; needs well-drained

soil; space 75 cm (30

inches) apart in sun

leaves used dried or fresh as

poultry dressing andstuffing, or as meat

seasoning

gray, shrubby, perennial;

blue flowers; woody;sprawly habit; to 45 cm (18

inches) tall

cut leaves th

growing sealeaves, scree

in small bun



SAVORY, Summer

Satureja hortensis. . .

seed; sow 30-40 seeds per

metre (10-12 seeds per foot); do not thin; medium-

rich soil in sun; make

several sowings 3 weeksapart; space 15 cm (6

inches)

suitable as a border hedge 8

inches high; leaves usedfresh or dried as seasoning

in soups, egg dishes,

sauces, especially withgreen beans

annual; weak stems; mauve

flowers; 40-45 cm (16-18inches) high; leaves

pungent and spicy

cut stalks be

hang to dry

SORREL, Garden Rumex acetosa

. . .

seed or division; full sun;rich soil; space 45 cm (18

inches) apart

tart, acid flavour; for soups,salads, sauces; rich in

vitamin A and C

heart-shaped succulentleaves; hardy perennial; cut

off flower stalks to promote

leaf growth; 30-60 cm (1-2

feet) tall

young leaveonly; cut ba

(2-4 inches)

growing sea

regrow; free

TARRAGON, French

Artemisia dracunculus sativa

. . .

division of root crowns;need cold period each year

(roots frozen) for continued

growth; divide plants every3 years; space 30 cm (12

inches) apart

fresh or dried leaves insauces and seafood;

ingredients of tartar sauce;

young leaves flavour vinegar, chicken dishes

hardy perennial; doesn't setseed; grows to 60 cm (2

feet); much branched;

narrow, twisted leaves

leaves are besome flavou

drying; can b

THYME

Thymus vulgaris. . .

stem cuttings, division; sowseed early; well-drained,

fertile soil; full sun; space

25 cm (10 inches) apart; cut back each spring; mulch

over winter

fragrant ground cover for rock garden; fresh or dried

leaves usually blended with

other herbs

perennial; shrubby, woodystems; low-growing, 15-20

cm (6-8 inches); leaves

highly aromatic; can be potted and grown indoors in

winter

cut leafy topflowering; h

screen dry

VERBENA, Lemon Aloysia triphylla

(Lippia citriodora)

. . .

cuttings; tender woody

shrub; take indoors in

winter

leaves for fragrance and to

give lemon taste to

beverages and jellies

narrow, shiny leaves are

lemon-scented; non-hardy

perennial

strip leaves

from plant b

come out; dr

common culinary herbs and their uses

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